School transport concerns raised with Minister
Priti Patel MP has met with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Roads and Local Transport, Guy Opperman MP to raise concerns regarding bus services and provision in Witham. This included discussing complaints from constituents about the reliability of services provided by Hedingham Omnibuses, which are essential to ensuring that children can get to and from school on time. The standard of the service provision of Hedingham Omnibuses is an ongoing issue in the constituency and one that Priti has previously raised with Essex County Council. Most recently, Priti has written to Cllr Tony Ball, the Cabinet Member at Essex County Council responsible for Education, to raise the urgent need for new investment in better provision for school transport.
During the meeting Priti urged the Minister to look into ways to support bus services across Essex, especially around the provision for reliable and consistent school travel.
Priti said: “Reliable school transport provision is essential pupils traveling to and from school and for their families who want peace of mind that their children are getting to school safely. We need urgent action to improve these vital local buses those services because this is having an impact upon the education of local pupils. The Minister will work with me to address the financial viability of local bus services as these services are losing money and he will press the issue of home to school transport with Essex County Council. ”